Galerina vittiformis

Galerina vittiformis
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Hymenogastraceae
Genus: Galerina
Species:
G. vittiformis
Binomial name
Galerina vittiformis
(Fr.) Singer (1950)
Synonyms
  • Agaricus vittiformis Fr. (1838)
Galerina vittiformis
Gills on hymenium
Cap is convex or conical
Hymenium is adnate
Stipe is bare
Spore print is reddish-brown
Ecology is saprotrophic
Edibility is unknown

Galerina vittiformis, also called the hairy leg bell, is a species of agaric fungus in the family Hymenogastraceae, and the type species of the genus Galerina.

Description

Galerina vittiformis has a honey-coloured, striped, hygrophanous cap, up to 1 centimetre (12 in) wide.[1] Its shape is bluntly conical becoming broadly convex and even flat with age, often with a prominent umbo. The gills are adnate and tawny to cream coloured, producing a reddish-brown spore print. The stem is up to 5 cm (2 in) long and 2 mm (116 in) thick.[1] The stem is equal and pale yellow to chestnut brown, and is initially slightly downy. It has no veil. The flesh is thin and fragile.

Microscopically, its spores measure 10–12.3 x 5–6.5 μm and egg shaped. Its plage is sharply defined, and the spores have an apical callus. Each basidium has 2 spores, and measures 20–24 x 7–8 μm. They are colorless in KOH. The pleurocystidia and cheilocystidia measure 56–74 x 10–16 μm, and are abundant to scattered. They are thin, and fusoid-ventricose with an acute or rounded tip. They are also colorless in KOH.[2]

Similar species

It resembles other members of its genus such as G. hypnorum, G. pumila, and G. semilanceata.[1]

Habitat and distribution

It is widely distributed in temperate regions, where it typically grows in moist locations, often among mosses.[3] The fungus has been shown to bioaccumulate various heavy metal from contaminated soil.[4][5]

In North America, it can generally be found from June to September, or somewhat later on the West Coast where it is more common.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Audubon (2023). Mushrooms of North America. Knopf. p. 650. ISBN 978-0-593-31998-7.
  2. ^ Gibson, Ian. "E-Flora BC Atlas Page". linnet.geog.ubc.ca. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  3. ^ Gro G. (2006). "The agaric genera Galerina Earle and Phaeogalera Kühner". In Boertmann D, Knudsen H (eds.). Arctic and Alpine Mycology. Vol. 6. Museum Tusculanum Press. pp. 60–88. ISBN 978-87-635-1277-0.
  4. ^ Damodaran D, Balakrishnan RM, Shetty VK (2013). "The uptake mechanism of Cd(II), Cr(VI), Cu(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II) by mycelia and fruiting bodies of Galerina vittiformis". BioMed Research International. 2013: 149120. doi:10.1155/2013/149120. PMC 3881449. PMID 24455671.
  5. ^ Damodaran D, Vidya Shetty K, Raj Mohan B (2014). "Uptake of certain heavy metals from contaminated soil by mushroom—Galerina vittiformis". Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 104: 414–422. doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2013.10.033. PMID 24655915.